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Background <p>As climate change accelerates, the rising global temperatures have intensified concerns about temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in turtles. Skewed sex ratios, particularly a female bias, threaten population viability. Understanding the molecular genetics of TSD is essential for developing informed conservation strategies in response to climate change.</p> Methods and results <p>This comprehensive review explores the roles of key genes, Dmrt1, Sox9, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), Kdm6B, CIRBP, Foxl2, and Cyp19a1, in regulating the development of male and female gonads in response to temperature cues. Notably, Dmrt1 pivotal in TSD; Sox9 and AMH promote male differentiation; Kdm6B influences sexual differentiation through epigenetic mechanisms, and CIRBP is responsive to thermal shifts; Foxl2 has emerged as a significant regulator of ovarian development; and Cyp19a1 functions vary across species. Recent insights from epigenetics and metabolomics in fish and reptiles suggest that temperature influences sex determination not only through gene expression but also via biochemical, epigenetic, and hormonal changes.</p> Conclusions <p>Such integrative, multi-omics approaches remain underutilized in turtle research. Bridging this gap may unlock new biomarkers for early sex prediction and enhance conservation responses to climate-driven sex ratio bias. Hence, future research must combine traditional developmental genetics with emerging omics technologies (e.g., transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics) to understand the dynamic responses of sex-related pathways to temperature variations. These integrated approaches are likely to generate powerful tools and biomarkers for early sex prediction and effective conservation interventions. Ultimately, safeguarding turtle populations in the face of climate-induced sex biases will require bridging molecular insights with on-ground conservation practices.</p>

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Genetic and environmental drivers of sex determination in turtles: insights and implications for conservation

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月12日

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  • Apurva Gupta,
  • Sudhanshu Mishra,
  • Minakshi Rajput

摘要

Background

As climate change accelerates, the rising global temperatures have intensified concerns about temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in turtles. Skewed sex ratios, particularly a female bias, threaten population viability. Understanding the molecular genetics of TSD is essential for developing informed conservation strategies in response to climate change.

Methods and results

This comprehensive review explores the roles of key genes, Dmrt1, Sox9, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), Kdm6B, CIRBP, Foxl2, and Cyp19a1, in regulating the development of male and female gonads in response to temperature cues. Notably, Dmrt1 pivotal in TSD; Sox9 and AMH promote male differentiation; Kdm6B influences sexual differentiation through epigenetic mechanisms, and CIRBP is responsive to thermal shifts; Foxl2 has emerged as a significant regulator of ovarian development; and Cyp19a1 functions vary across species. Recent insights from epigenetics and metabolomics in fish and reptiles suggest that temperature influences sex determination not only through gene expression but also via biochemical, epigenetic, and hormonal changes.

Conclusions

Such integrative, multi-omics approaches remain underutilized in turtle research. Bridging this gap may unlock new biomarkers for early sex prediction and enhance conservation responses to climate-driven sex ratio bias. Hence, future research must combine traditional developmental genetics with emerging omics technologies (e.g., transcriptomics, epigenomics, and metabolomics) to understand the dynamic responses of sex-related pathways to temperature variations. These integrated approaches are likely to generate powerful tools and biomarkers for early sex prediction and effective conservation interventions. Ultimately, safeguarding turtle populations in the face of climate-induced sex biases will require bridging molecular insights with on-ground conservation practices.